Countdown to direct cash transfer

A recent picture of Aadhaar cards being sorted at Kidderpore post office

The November 1 deadline for rolling out the scheme for direct transfer of subsidy on LPG cylinders to the beneficiariesí bank accounts in Calcutta, Howrah and Cooch Behar remains unchanged. The state government had earlier written to Delhi to defer the roll-out date as lakhs were yet to receive their 12-digit Aadhaar numbers, without which the subsidy cannot be credited to the accounts. On Wednesday the government decided not to pursue with the plea as more than half the population in Calcutta, Howrah and Cooch Behar have got their Aadhaar numbers, and there will be some leeway till January 31.

Enrolment camps will be held at 46 LPG distribution centres in an attempt to ensure that all consumers get their Aadhaar numbers by November 1. According to the data available with the oil companies, there are over 12 lakh LPG consumers in Calcutta. As the countdown for the direct benefit transfer ó a dream project of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ó starts, Metro answers the Aadhaar-related questions on the minds of LPG customers.

Whose names are not in the National Population Register

(The first step to get an Aadhaar number is to get yourself included in the NPR database. There are thousands whose names donít figure in the NPR)

Q: How do I get myself included in the NPR database?

A: Visit the local borough office (the address is on the CMC website) and meet officials in the Census cell to fill in the NPR schedule.

Or, download the NPR form from the CMC website and fill it in. The form has to be deposited in the Census cell of the borough office.

Or, visit the office of the local LPG distributor where the Census directorate will set up an office for NPR enrolment

After the name gets included in the database, wait for the intimation for biometric enrolment.

Those awaiting biometric enrolment

(The second step for getting an Aadhaar number. Biometric details, such as the image of the iris and fingerprints, are sent to the UIDAI centre in Ranchi.)

Q: What do I do for biometric enrolment?

A: If your details are in the NPR database, wait for your turn and be present at the venue

Or, turn up at the local LPG distributorís office, where a camp will be held for biometric enrolment.

Those with Aadhaar numbers

Q: I have got my Aadhaar number. What should I do to ensure that I get the benefit?

A: Approach the bank to link your account with the Aadhaar number. Also convey the number to your LPG distributor.

The LPG distribution centres will keep the form that has to be filled in to inform the bank about the number. The forms can be deposited in a box at the distributorís office.

Alternatively, consumers can collect the form from the bank and deposit it in the branch concerned.

Q: Do I need to inform the LPG distributor about my bank account number and the bank about my

LPG consumer number?

A: The link between the bank account and the LPG consumer number will be done by the National Payment Corporation of India.

Customers whose biometric enrolment has been done but are awaiting their Aadhaar numbers

Q: How long will I have to wait for my Aadhaar number?

A: The period between biometric enrolment and delivery of Aadhaar number ó through ordinary post ó is three to four months.